Some of the best dreams I’ve ever had are the ones in which I am flying. Not in a plane, rather soaring like a bird in the air. I had a recurring dream as a child that began at my front door. I would run toward our hill and before I knew it, I was airborne. It was magical. I could see the tops of houses in my neighborhood and familiar roads that took me into town. It wasn’t a dream filled with unfamiliar sights, it was my neighborhood, my town and my home. At some point I learned I could control my dream. I recall a time where in my dream I suddenly began losing altitude. I thought “I’m falling!” as I frantically flapped my arms. I felt like Peter feebly attempting to walk on water toward Jesus. Then I started telling myself “I can fly, I can fly!” and just like that, I took off into the air once more. On more than one occasion I woke up in tears because I didn’t want the dream to end.
In my last post, I reference the video game Journey. It is a breath-taking game where the main character’s ability for flight features prominently in the game play. Oh how I longed to play! No long after I wrote that post, my son found the game as a download from the PlayStation Store, and I booted up. This game was everything I imagined and more. The music and scenery were evocative and beautiful. With each level, I became familiar with the landscapes and more comfortable with my character’s ability to fly (thanks to the scarf). As I moved closer to the end, the energy and intensity increased until the final level, Apotheosis, which culminated in a powerful and exhilarating ascent to the top of a magnificent mountain. The game ended. The credits rolled. I cried. It was that same feeling of freedom and awe I felt as a little girl who dreamed she could fly.
Now, on to the knits.
I completed the Wild Posy by Melody Hoffmann. This was a thoroughly enjoyable knit, but it was not without its drama. I was cruising along on the first sleeve when I thought I would try it on for length. I could barely get my arm in! Nothing in the pattern seemed off and I still don’t know what the problem was, but I needed to do some serious tinking. Except, of course, that this is Plotulopi…the “moody child” of the knitting world. There is no ripping or tinking back, only cutting. I cut the sleeve off, people!! You heard me. I collected my supplies: sharp scissors, strong bourbon and a deep breath. I cut about 1″ from where I picked up for the sleeves and went to town. And it worked! I had one row of stitches to wrestle with, inserted my needles and went back at it. This time, I didn’t decrease the full number of stitches and was sure to check the fit as I went. This sweater is warm and lightweight. The yoke is subtle but elegant.
Next off the needles was Declan, a sweet little knit for a sweet little boy.
The pattern is #214 Baby Pullover by Diane Soucy Knitting Pure and Simple. A joy to make, this knit up in a week using Blue Sky Fibers Sweater Worsted. A blend of merino and cotton, this is my favorite yarn when it comes to knitting for ‘The Littles’.
Here’s another “Little Knit”!
“Lil Will” , modeled by Lil Will himself is #37 Top Down Roll Raglan by Melinda Goodfellow of Yankee Knitter Designs. The yarn is a Yowza skein from Miss Babs in the Petrified Forest colorway. Have you ever knit with a Yowza? There is a whopping 560 yds in each skein! Say it with me…YOWZA! That’s a lotta yarn. Another great choice for easy-to-care-for hand knits, Yowza is a hand dyed superwash merino with enough yardage to knit a sweater for 6 mos to 2 yr. You might know Miss Babs from the insane line at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival. Here’s a pro tip. While you stand in line for your yarn, send someone out for the cider donuts.
Taking my cue from a fellow blogger, I cast on for a JuJu Beanie by Aspen Leaf Knits. What a fun and satisfying knit! This knit up in a day. What makes a better beanie? Matching mittens, of course!
I went deep diving into stash for this wool. Techno, by Blue Sky Fibers, is considered a blown fiber. It unique construction consists of baby alpaca blown into a mesh tube of silk. It looks like single ply but without the spitting. Imagine whole lotta soft, spun into a tube, filled with fluff, then wrapped in a cloud. It’s like that; bulky but light, soft and cozy warm. The hat and mittens were knit with two strands held together. Notice the pom-pom? I am getting wise in my old age. This in no way resembles a tennis ball, therefore the little terrorist leaves it alone. Good Carver! I am not sure why the ribbing looks so wonky. Good thing I’ll be tucking that in my coat.
Not that long ago, I knit a Felix Pullover by Amy Christoffers aka Savory Knitting. I loved the pattern and the beautiful blue Donegal Tweed yarn. The sweater mysteriously found its way to my mother’s closet, but I longed for one of my own. I chose the same Donegal Tweed yarn in purple. Here is Felix 2.0, or as I have named it “Please Don’t Give This One Away“. (I’m looking at you, Robert!)
The Felix is one of those patterns you don’t mind knitting again and again. No modifications to this sweater, and this one is mine, all mine!
Finally, there has been action on the sock front. I cast on for these over a year ago. I had completed one sock and was working on the second when tragedy struck:
Carver found the ball of yarn for sock number two and chewed the top right off. So many things went into time out that night. The socks, my dog, and eventually me. Oh, I finally found a replacement skein from half-way around the globe, but by the time I had the heart to cast on sock #2 it was the fall.
These are Helgen Socks by Anna Lena aka Anna Knitter. They are knit with Opal 6 ply making them a warm, thick and slouchy pair of socks for wearing inside boots or around the house. What makes them so special is that I blocked them in a bucket of my tears.
I hope you all are well. That little groundhog better have his facts straight. I feel the sun getting stronger and warmer every day.
Thank you for stopping by my crazy corner of the world. Until next time, be well.
Love,
ReginaMary
Saint of the Day: St. Jacinta Marto, youngest visionary of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal in 1917. Her Patronage is broad:
• against bodily ills or sickness
• captives, prisoners
• people ridiculed for their piety
• sick people
I would like us to offer up a silent prayer to the victims of sex-trafficking. May God help them and have mercy on their tormentors. (don’t mean to be a downer, but seriously.)
In my cup:
Harney & Sons Formosa Oolong. Anything that can get away with “oo” is OOK in my book. Great brew!
In my ears:
Almost Blue from a live performance by Chet Baker. I was reading Kate Davies blog post from Sunday where she shared a playlist of songs about “Blue”. When she solicited other songs about ‘blue’ this is what I shared.
Here is the original Almost Blue by the inimitable Elvis Costello, featuring Chet Baker.
I can’t even…
Cosmicknitter 